Portable music stand



May 26, 1953 ACKERMAN 2,639,962

PORTABLE MUSIC STAND Filed July 7, 1949 7 INVENTOR I Patented May 26, 1953 PORTABLE MUSIC STAND Morris Ackerman, Chevy Chase, Md., assignor of one-fifth to John J. White, Washington, D. C.

Application July 7, 1949, Serial No. 103,363

2 Claims.

This invention relates to music stands and more particularly to a portable type of stand which also serves as a carrying case for sheet music.

Many groups of musicians, particularly members of dance bands, are forced tomove from place to place quite frequently. At present, substantially all dance bands furnish their members with music stands which may be disassembled for transport. One of the disadvantages of these stands is that upon the completion of the particular engagement the sheafs, or book of sheet music, supported on the stands must be removed and either stored and carried separately in small valises, or stored in a large common carrying case. The standv itself is then disassembled and is transported separately from the music. It can be readily appreciated from the above that this procedure is time consuming aside from the obvious disadvantage of having to cart about the thirty or so fairly large pieces of loose cardboard, in the case of an average sized dance band, which make up the music stands.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a music stand which does not have to be assembled and disassembled for each engagement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a music stand from which it is not necessary to remove the sheet music in order to transport it to the location of the musicians next job.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a light, yet rigid and durable, support with sufficient space for each musicians sheaf of sheet music which is pleasing in appearance and is quickly and easily prepared for transport.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully in the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the combination music stand and case in its open or extended position to constitute a music stand.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the stand also in the extended position.

Figure 3 is a top view of the stand in the extended position taken normal to the plane of the sheet music container.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing in greater detail a method of fastening the front of the stand to the supporting legs.

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the top of the case partially closed, the right supporting leg fully folded into the case and the left leg partially folded.

Figure 6 shows the case with the legs fully folded and the top closed as it would appear ready for transport.

The supporting legs 2 are fastened to the upper forward portions of the end Walls 15 and I6 by means of hinges l8, which enable the legs 2 to be folded from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 completely inside the case, as the right leg is shown in Figure 5. The hinge line for the right leg lies somewhat closer to the bottom of the case on its side wall than does the hinge line for the left leg, as can be observed from Figure 5. This is done to allow the legs to lie in parallel horizontal planes when folded into the case.

The legs 2, as shown in the drawing, may be formed of metal tubing with their upper ends flattened and riveted or otherwise affixed to the hinges I8. The legs 2 could also be constructed of sheet metal so as to form planar sides for the stand. However, the tubular construction is preferred. The hinges l8 could be spotwelded or riveted to the end walls l5 and I6 of the case.

When the stand is in the extended or open position, shown in Figures 1 to 3, as it will be when in use as a stand, the L shaped legs will rest with the base of the L on the floor and the top 3 of the case will be moved from a closed position, through an angle of approximately 270 degrees, so that its lower corners may be detachably fastened to legs 2 by means of fastening devices In and l I (shown generally in Figures 1 and 2 and to a larger scale in Figure 4). This expedient will obviously stabilize the legs and prevent the stand from collapsing.

A simple type of fastening device which might be employed to fasten legs 2 to top 3 in the extended position is shown in detail in Figure 4, wherein II] is a hook pivoted in a hole in top 3, and l l is an eye which is secured in a through hole in leg 2. Obviously there are a large number of catches of various descriptions commercially available which would serve the same purpose.

Further lateral stability is provided by the fact that the legs 2 are arranged so that in their extended position they will bear against the junction of the lower and the side walls of the case I.

Figures 3 and 5 show the installation of a light 4, its shade, or reflector 5, and cord 6. The light is mounted in the center of the upper edge of the front wall I3, and is used to illuminate the sheet music [9. The preferred mode of installing the cord 6, is to run it through one of the tubular legs 2 and provide a plug 1 at its outer end which can be inserted in outlets usually provided on bandstands.

A narrow flap-like strip of metal 20 is hinged at 2| to the lower edge (in the extended position) of the top 3. Catches which mate with catches 8 [are aifixed to this strip of metal 20, and are riveted or otherwise fastened to the back wall M for 'the'purpose of securing the top .3 in the closed position (shown in Figure 6). A carrying handle 9 is also attached to the back wall I4.

The preferred construction material for thestand described above is aluminum or magnesium. The use of either of th'ese'materials would have several advantages. rials are extremely strong and light in weight. They also lend themselves to various anodic treatments whereby a colorful, satiny, corrosion resistant finish may be imparted to the stand. This anodic finish actually becomes part of the metal and will not scratch, chip or peel as paint probably would.

The side of the top 3, which is exposed to the musicians audience, in the extended,positionp may have a decorative emblem imposed-thereon or the name of'the orchestra, thus further enhancing the appearance of the stand. As canbe seen in Figure 5, this emblem 'or otherdecoration would be protected in transport-because it would be on the inside of the case when'it was folded for transport.

It is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the form, cnstruction and arrangement of the various parts without departing fromthe' scope or spirit of the invention. Theform described and illustrated above' is merely a pre- Both of these mate supports.

2. A combination sheet music stand and carryingcase consisting of: a sheet music containing caseya pair of floor engaging supports pivotally connected to the upper portions of the end walls of said case; the pivots being so arranged as to allow the supports to be folded into the case and lie one above the other in parallel planes; a cover pivotally connected to the upper edge of the'front wall of said case, said cover being adapted to open from its closed position to its fully open position through an arc of approximately 270 degrees; catch means fastened to said cover adapted to engage said supports when said supports are in their floor engaging position and said cover is in its fully open position.

.MORRIS ACKERMAN.

References Cited in the file .of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 519,528 Clifton May 8, 1894 1,035,648 Small Aug. 13, 1912 1,330,388 ODonnell Feb. 10, 1920 2,277,435 Howe Mar. 24, 1942 

